Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Alexandria PA

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Alexandria Pennsylvania

Alexandria PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Alexandria PA might initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the right selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. After they have located some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Alexandria PA

cat with cone after surgery in Alexandria PA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Alexandria PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Alexandria PA labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Alexandria

student attending online vet tech school in Alexandria PA An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Alexandria PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Alexandria PA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Alexandria PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Alexandria PA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for many Alexandria PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Alexandria PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Alexandria PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Alexandria PA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Alexandria PA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Alexandria PA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Alexandria PA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Alexandria PA?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Alexandria Pennsylvania area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.

Alexandria, Pennsylvania

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 346 people and 139 households within the borough. The population density was 3,460.0 people per square mile (1,407.5/km²). There were 160 housing units at an average density of 1,580.0 per square mile (561.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.55% White, 0.29 African American, 0.29% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.

There were 139 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 19, 4.9% from 20 to 24, 13.9% from 25 to 34, 21.4% from 35 to 49, 19.9% from 50-64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. The population was 49.42% male, and 50.58% female.

Pick the Right Vet Tech College near Alexandria PA

Alexandria PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech schools must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Alexandria PA.